Gun control tapped into the turmoil of the 1960s, exposing tensions of race and class, and between rural and urban Americans. The National Rifle Association, founded in 1871, 80 years after the adoption of the Second Amendment, began to wield power by amplifying its members’ fears of being disarmed in lawless times, and it used that energy to influence gun legislation in Washington.
A timeline of NRA influence on gun laws
The National Firearms Act
Public outcry over the bloody tommy-gun wars after Prohibition prompted the first federal law to regulate some firearms. It imposed a tax of $200 on machine guns, sawed-off shotguns and silencers that has not increased in 84 years. The NRA supported the law. “I have never believed in the general practice of carrying weapons,” said its president, Olympic marksman Karl Telford Frederick. “I think it should be sharply restricted and only under licenses.”
The Federal Firearms Act
The law required manufacturers, importers and dealers to obtain a federal firearms license and to keep customer records. It also prohibited sales to those indicted or convicted of “crimes of violence” and to fugitives from justice. It, too, had the support of the NRA.
The Mulford Act
California banned the open carry of firearms after armed Black Panthers began patrolling city streets to protect against police brutality, then took their protest to the statehouse. The NRA supported the law -- and it would give its first endorsement for president to the governor who had signed it, Ronald Reagan.
Gun Control Act
In the turbulent aftermath of the assassinations of three national leaders and rising fears over race-related violence, the White House pushed for a national gun registry and licenses for all gun carriers. The NRA blocked those provisions. The law that did pass restricted mail-order sales, barred the mentally ill and drug-addicted from owning guns and required serial numbers on all weapons. In signing the new law, President Lyndon B. Johnson excoriated the NRA, saying: “The voices that blocked these safeguards were not the voices of an aroused nation. They were the voices of a powerful lobby, a gun lobby.”
Events
Firearms Owners’ Protection Act
After years of lobbying by the NRA, which donated $1.4 million to congressional candidates in 1984, Congress rolled back the 1968 restrictions on buying, selling and transporting firearms across state lines and limited inspections of gun dealers to one per year.
Each year, the FBI processes more and more background checks for would-be
firearm owners
Since its launch in November 1998, the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System has processed about 287 million checks, 1.3 million of which led to a denial.
3 million monthly
background checks
2
Jan. to Dec.
1
‘98
‘00
‘02
‘04
‘06
‘08
‘10
‘12
‘14
‘16
‘18
Note: Background checks are issued every time someone intends to purchase a firearm, which can be multiple times within a given time period. NICS data as of April 2018.
Sources: National Instant Criminal Background Check System, FBI
Each year, the FBI processes more and more background checks for would-be firearm owners
Since its launch in November 1998, the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System has processed about
287 million checks, 1.3 million of which led to a denial.
DECEMBER 2015
Senate opposes gun control proposals after shooting in
San Bernardino
JANUARY 2013
Assault Weapons Ban introduced after Sandy Hook shooting
3 million monthly
background checks
OCTOBER 2005
Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act passes
SEPTEMBER 2006
Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act passes
SEPTEMBER 2004
Federal Assault Weapons Ban expires
2
Jan. to Dec.
1
'98
'99
'00
'01
'02
'03
'04
'05
'06
'07
'08
'09
'10
'11
'12
'13
'14
'15
'16
'17
'18
Note: Background checks are issued every time someone intends to purchase a firearm, which can be multiple times within a given time period. NICS data as of April 2018.
Sources: National Instant Criminal Background Check System, FBI
Each year, the FBI processes more and more background checks for would-be firearm owners
DECEMBER 2015
Senate opposes gun control proposals after shooting in
San Bernardino
Since its launch in November 1998, the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System has processed about
287 million checks, 1.3 million of which led to a denial.
JANUARY 2013
Assault Weapons Ban introduced after Sandy Hook shooting
3 million monthly
background checks
OCTOBER 2005
Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act passes
2
SEPTEMBER 2004
Federal Assault Weapons Ban expires
SEPTEMBER 2006
Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act passes
Jan. to Dec.
1
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
1998
Note: Background checks are issued every time someone intends to purchase a firearm, which can be multiple times within a given time period. NICS data as of April 2018.
Sources: National Instant Criminal Background Check System, FBI
Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act
Seven years after it was introduced, the bill became law. mandating a federal background check on firearms purchasers. It created a new electronic system, the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, that went online in 1998. It was named for presidential press secretary James A. Brady, who was shot in the head by John Hinckley when he tried to kill the Reagan outside a Washington hotel.
Events
Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act
One of the most sweeping crime bills in U.S. history included a 10-year ban on the manufacture, ownership or transfer of 19 semiautomatic weapons, including the AR-15, which had become the weapon of choice of violent drug gangs. It also limited the capacity of magazines to 10 bullets. The NRA warned that this law and the Brady Act would lead to the disarming of law-abiding Americans.
Events
Federal assault-weapons ban expires
After repeated attempts to renew the ban failed, it ended. Despite the ban, there were still ways for people to legally obtain rapid-fire weapons.
Events
Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act
President George W. Bush signed the bill, granting gun manufacturers immunity from civil lawsuits filed over crimes committed with firearms. The NRA called it “a vitally important first step toward ending the anti-gun lobby’s shameless attempts to bankrupt the American firearms industry through reckless lawsuits.”
Events
Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act
After the New Orleans police chief ordered officers to seize any firearms from citizens who stayed in the flooded city, the NRA sued and won a temporary injunction. An amendment that prohibits the confiscation of a lawfully owned firearm during an emergency or natural disaster was attached to a spending bill for the Department of Homeland Security and became law.
Events
Assault Weapons Ban
President Barack Obama supported reinstating the ban on assault weapons, and polls showed a majority of Americans favored stricter gun control after 20 children and six adults were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., by a gunman using a semiautomatic weapon. The NRA started a “Stop the Gun Ban” campaign even before the bill was introduced. It failed in the Senate, 60 to 40.
Events
In most states, the rate of households owning guns
has declined
Estimated household
gun ownership
U.S.
75%
50%
25%
-10
pct. pts.
0%
2016
2016
1981
North
Maine
Maine
-14
Vt.
Vt.
N.H.
N.H.
-13
-9
R.I.
R.I.
N.Y.
N.Y.
Mass.
Mass.
-17
-9
0
Pa.
Conn.
Conn.
N.J.
N.J.
-5
-7
-8
South
Md.
Md.
Del.
Del.
-13
-1
Ky.
Ky.
W.Va.
W.Va.
Va.
Va.
-8
-11
-10
Tenn.
Tenn.
N.C.
N.C.
Ark.
Ark.
S.C.
S.C.
Okla.
Okla.
-17
-10
-10
-9
-2
La.
La.
Miss.
Miss.
Ala.
Ala.
Ga.
Ga.
Tex.
-10
-9
-3
-13
-13
Fla.
Fla.
-8
Midwest
N.D.
N.D.
+1
S.D.
S.D.
Minn.
Minn.
Mich.
Mich.
Wis.
Wis.
-3
-4
-7
0
Iowa
Iowa
Neb.
Neb.
Ill.
Ill.
Ohio
Ohio
Ind.
Ind.
-10
-10
-6
-4
-2
Kan.
Kan.
Mo.
Mo.
-11
-7
West
Wash.
Wash.
Mont.
Mont.
Alaska
Alaska
-15
-15
-10
Idaho
Idaho
Ore.
Ore.
Wyo.
Wyo.
-21
-17
-34
Hawaii
Hawaii
Calif.
Calif.
Nev.
Nev.
Utah
Utah
Colo.
Colo.
-9
-11
-16
-18
-12
Ariz.
Ariz.
N.M.
N.M.
-12
-17
Note: No data for the District of Columbia.
Source: Boston University
In most states, the rate of households owning guns has declined
In most states, the rate of households owning guns has declined
Estimated household
gun ownership
Estimated household
gun ownership
Maine
Maine
Maine
Maine
U.S.
U.S.
75%
75%
50%
50%
25%
25%
pct. pts.
-10
0%
0%
-14
2016
2016
2016
2016
1981
1981
Wis.
Wis.
Wis.
Wis.
Vt.
Vt.
Vt.
Vt.
N.H.
N.H.
N.H.
N.H.
-13
-9
0
Wash.
Wash.
Wash.
Wash.
Idaho
Idaho
Idaho
Idaho
N.D.
N.D.
N.D.
N.D.
Minn.
Minn.
Minn.
Minn.
Ill.
Ill.
Ill.
Ill.
R.I.
R.I.
R.I.
R.I.
Mont.
Mont.
Mont.
Mont.
Mich.
Mich.
Mich.
Mich.
N.Y.
N.Y.
N.Y.
N.Y.
Mass.
Mass.
Mass.
Mass.
-15
-21
-10
+1
-3
-6
-7
-17
-9
0
Ore.
Ore.
Ore.
Ore.
Ohio
Ohio
Ohio
Ohio
Penn
Penn
Pa.
Utah
Utah
Utah
Utah
Wyo.
Wyo.
Wyo.
Wyo.
S.D.
S.D.
S.D.
S.D.
Iowa
Iowa
Iowa
Iowa
Ind.
Ind.
Ind.
Ind.
Conn.
Conn.
Conn.
Conn.
N.J.
N.J.
N.J.
N.J.
-17
-18
-34
-4
-10
-4
-5
-7
-8
-2
Ky.
Ky.
Ky.
Ky.
W.Va.
W.Va.
W.Va.
W.Va.
Va.
Va.
Va.
Va.
Md.
Md.
Md.
Md.
Nev.
Nev.
Nev.
Nev.
Colo.
Colo.
Colo.
Colo.
Neb.
Neb.
Neb.
Neb.
Mo.
Mo.
Mo.
Mo.
Del.
Del.
Del.
Del.
Calif.
Calif.
Calif.
Calif.
-7
-11
-16
-12
-10
-8
-11
-13
-1
-10
Ariz.
Ariz.
Ariz.
Ariz.
Tenn.
Tenn.
Tenn.
Tenn.
N.C.
N.C.
N.C.
N.C.
N.M.
N.M.
N.M.
N.M.
Kan.
Kan.
Kan.
Kan.
Ark.
Ark.
Ark.
Ark.
S.C.
S.C.
S.C.
S.C.
-12
-17
-11
-17
-10
-10
-9
La.
La.
La.
La.
Miss.
Miss.
Miss.
Miss.
Ala.
Ala.
Ala.
Ala.
Ga.
Ga.
Ga.
Ga.
Okla.
Okla.
Okla.
Okla.
Alaska
Alaska
Alaska
Alaska
Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii
-2
-10
-9
-3
-13
-15
-9
Fla.
Fla.
Fla.
Fla.
Tex.
-13
-8
Note: No data for the District of Columbia
Source: Boston University
In most states, the rate of households owning guns has declined
Maine
Estimated household gun ownership
-14
U.S.
75%
Wis.
Vt.
N.H.
50%
25%
pct. pts.
-10
0%
2016
1981
0
-13
-9
Idaho
N.D.
Minn.
Ill.
R.I.
Mont.
Mich.
N.Y.
Mass.
Wash.
-7
-17
0
-15
-21
-10
+1
-3
-6
-9
Ore.
Ohio
Pa.
Utah
Wyo.
S.D.
Iowa
Ind.
Conn.
N.J.
-17
-18
-34
-4
-10
-4
-2
-5
-7
-8
Ky.
Va.
Md.
Nev.
Colo.
Mo.
Del.
Calif.
Neb.
W.Va.
-11
-16
-12
-10
-7
-8
-11
-13
-1
-10
Ariz.
Tenn.
N.C.
N.M.
Kan.
Ark.
S.C.
-12
-17
-11
-17
-10
-10
-9
Okla.
La.
Miss.
Ala.
Ga.
Alaska
Hawaii
-2
-10
-9
-13
-3
-15
-9
Fla.
Tex.
-8
-13
Note: No data for the District of Columbia
Source: Boston University
Frances Stead Sellers, Armand Emamdjomeh and Aaron Williams contributed to this report.
About this report
Estimated household gun ownership data is from 1981 to 2016. The federal government has not collected state-level household gun ownership statistics since 2004. Researchers often use state-collected data on suicides by firearms as a proxy for gun ownership in the United States.
Boston University researchers created a new proxy that also factors in total hunting licenses issued by state. They validated the data by measuring the correlation of this new proxy to gun ownership surveys from 48 states in 1996 and 1999 and 21 states from 1995 to 1998. The combined data has a higher correlation to past federal gun ownership surveys than using firearm suicides alone.
NRA ads in the photo illustration are from Pistol Marksmanship (NRA Handbook No. 4), a Gun Club ad of Mossberg & Sons and the NRA-ILA.
More stories
Analysis | More than 200,000 students have experienced gun violence at school since Columbine
The Washington Post has spent the past year determining how many children have been exposed to gun violence during school hours since the Columbine High massacre in 1999.
The four days in 1968 that reshaped D.C.
Chaotic riots left 13 dead and more than 900 businesses damaged in the wake of King’s assassination.